Hong Kong Sports and Activities

Horseracing

Horseracing is the most popular sport among local people. Race meetings, at which vast sums of money change hands, are held from September to May, Saturday or Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evening.

The two main racecourses are at Happy Valley (Hong Kong Island) and Shatin (New Territories). For details, contact the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (hotline: 1817). The tourist board organises horseracing tours which allow visitors to enjoy the races from the members-only enclosures.

Hiking and wildlife

In 1841, Lord Palmerston who was then foreign secretary wrote that Hong Kong was 'nothing but a barren island without a house upon it'. Today, the situation is different, although many people will be surprised to learn that less than 30% of the territory's land area is developed. Owing to the foresight of a former Governor, many of Hong Kong's natural areas have been protected, and there are 22 country parks which cover approximately 110,000 acres (40,000 hectares) of land.

There are 4 long-distance hiking trails.

The MacLehose Trail, the longest of these at 100km (62 miles), crosses the New Territories, taking in Hong Kong's highest peak, Tai Mo Shan (985m/3231ft).

It can be joined at 10 different points, all of them accessible by public transport, and is recommended for experienced hikers.

The 70-km (43-mile) Lantau Trail runs around Lantau Island, via Lantau Peak (934m/3064ft) and Po Lin Monastery, home to the world's tallest seated Buddha.

The Hong Kong Trail runs through 5 country parks on Hong Kong Island, and the Wilson Trail runs for 78 kilometres from the south of Hong Kong Island to the north of the New Territories, necessitating a ferry ride across the harbour.

On these trails and on other walks, visitors can escape from the urban bustle that characterises the rest of the territory and enjoy tranquillity and beautiful views. There is a wide variety of vegetation, including native and imported species of trees.

Although there are no longer large mammals such as tigers and elephants to be seen, it is possible to spot macaque monkeys, wild boar, civet cats, barking deer and the Chinese pangolin, a scaly mammal which resembles an armadillo.

A popular walk is the Dragon's Back on Hong Kong Island, which follows a ridge, giving spectacular views. This can be ended off with dinner in one of the restaurants in Shek-O village. Cyclists will enjoy the Tolo Harbour Cycling Track, running from Sha Tin to Tai Po, an easy ride through scenic countryside. Bikes are available for rental near KCR stations. Most of the outlying islands do not allow cars, and are therefore very peaceful.

They are best visited in the week because they attract many visitors at weekends. Hong Kong's prime birdwatching site is at the Mai Po marshes near Yuen Long in the east of the New Territories.

The area is now administered by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and visitors are required to obtain a permit to enter. Black-headed gulls, Saunders gull, osprey, Dalmatian pelicans and Chinese pond herons all visit the site to feed on the fish in the mud flats and mangroves there, and many other species can also be seen. Hong Kong's waters are home to the Chinese pink dolphin, which can be observed near Lantau Island.

Golf: All golf clubs and their facilities in Hong Kong are for members only, although visitors can play for a limited time at an extra cost. Major tournaments are held at the renowned Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling, which also allows visitors to join as day members. The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau public golf course, beautifully located on an island, was designed by Gary Player.

The Hong Kong Tourist Association (tel: 28 07 63 90) organises sports and recreation tours on Tuesdays and Fridays which include trips to various golf courses.

There are over 30 highly-acclaimed beaches throughout the territory. Excellent skindiving, water-skiing and sailing, kayaking and windsurfing are available. Watersports equipment can be hired from beaches and hotels in Stanley and Sai Kung, and from other centres. Spectator sports such as soccer, rugby and cricket are also popular. Jogging facilities are provided by some hotels.

The Clinic at Adventis Hospital holds jogging sessions every Sunday. There are also good facilities for squash, tennis, riding, bowling and ice skating, as well as health-centre facilities.